More B team than Dream Team for US Olympic basketballers

No Stephen Curry? No LeBron James? No problem. Despite missing the game’s two best players, the US men’s basketball team are still the slam dunk favorite to return home from the Rio Olympics with the gold medal.

With many top players turning down a chance to throw on the Stars and Stripes, the US squad are more “B Team” than “Dream Team” but are nonetheless a frightening collection of talent capable of providing Olympic-size nightmares for opponents.

Among other Americans choosing to skip the Games are National Basketball Association All-Stars Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, James Harden, Blake Griffin, John Wall, Kawhi Leonard and Anthony Davis.